ECCE 2026 — 15 free preschool hours per week for all children from age 2
ECCE Free Preschool Ireland 2026
Every child in Ireland is entitled to free preschool under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme. From September following your child’s second birthday, they get 15 free hours of preschool per week, September to June, until they are eligible for primary school. No means test, no cost. ECCE can be combined with the National Childcare Scheme for additional childcare hours.
ECCE 2025/2026 — At a glance
- Free hours
- 15 hours/week
- Programme duration
- Minimum 38 weeks, Sept – June
- Eligible age
- From September after 2nd birthday to school entry
- Cost to parent
- €0 for the 15 ECCE hours
- Means test
- None — all children entitled equally
- Enrol through
- ECCE-registered provider directly
What ECCE provides
ECCE is a government-funded programme delivered by registered preschools and early years settings. It provides:
- 15 free hours of preschool per week for a minimum of 38 weeks per year
- Qualified early years educators in registered settings
- A structured early learning programme (Aistear/Siolta framework)
- No cost to parents for the core 15 hours — mandatory charges are prohibited
The 2025/2026 ECCE programme year runs September 2025 to June 2026. The next programme year (2026/2027) begins September 2026.
Eligibility
Your child is eligible for ECCE if they meet the age requirement and a registered provider has a place. The age rule:
| Child’s birthday | Earliest ECCE start |
|---|---|
| Before 31 August in any year | The following September (child is just turned 2 or older) |
| 1 September – 31 December | The September of the following year (child will be nearly 3) |
Children continue in ECCE until they are eligible to start primary school. Some children attend one ECCE year; children with late birthdays or those who defer school entry may attend two ECCE years.
Who qualifies
- Child is aged from September after their 2nd birthday up to primary school entry age
- Child is ordinarily resident in Ireland
- Child has a PPSN (can be obtained before enrolment)
- A registered ECCE provider in your area has a place available
Who may not qualify
- Children below the September-after-second-birthday age threshold
- Children who have already reached primary school entry age
- Children not ordinarily resident in Ireland
- ECCE is only available at registered providers — non-registered settings cannot deliver the free programme
Worked examples — what ECCE is worth
Example 1 — One child, 15 ECCE hours, creche charges €8/hour privately
Maria’s daughter (3) attends a registered creche. The private hourly rate is €8. Under ECCE, 15 hours per week are free for 38 weeks.
Annual ECCE saving: 15 hrs × €8 × 38 weeks = €4,560/year
Example 2 — ECCE + NCS combined, 45 hours/week total
Carlos’s son (3) attends creche 45 hours/week. 15 hours are free under ECCE. The remaining 30 hours are subsidised by the NCS Universal Subsidy of €2.14/hour. Carlos’s private hourly rate for non-ECCE hours is €9/hour.
ECCE saving: 15 hrs × €9 × 38 weeks = €5,130/year
NCS saving on additional 30 hrs: 30 hrs × €2.14 × 50 weeks = €3,210/year
Total: €8,340/year in combined ECCE + NCS savings
Example 3 — Two ECCE years (child born in November)
Ana was born in November 2022. She cannot start ECCE in September 2024 (age 21 months). She starts in September 2025 (age 2 years, 10 months). She attends ECCE for two full years before starting primary school in September 2027.
Total ECCE benefit: 2 years × €4,560 = approximately €9,120 over the two ECCE years (at an €8/hour private rate example)
Two ECCE years are common for children born in autumn and winter months.
How to enrol in ECCE
- Find a registered ECCE provider
Use the ncs.gov.ie provider search or contact your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for a list of ECCE-registered preschools and creches in your area. Contact providers as early as possible — ECCE places can fill quickly. Enrolment for September typically opens in January or February.
- Get your child’s PPSN
Your child needs a PPSN to be registered in the ECCE programme. If they do not have one, apply at your local Intreo centre or social welfare office. You will need your own PPSN and proof of the child’s identity and residence.
- Register with the provider
Enrolment is handled directly with the preschool or creche. The provider registers your child with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). You do not need to apply to any government department yourself.
- Apply for NCS separately for additional hours
If you need more than 15 hours per week, apply for the NCS Universal Subsidy at ncs.gov.ie. The NCS subsidises the hours beyond the 15 free ECCE hours in the same provider, or in a separate provider for school-age childcare.
After enrolment
- The preschool registers attendance and claims funding from the Department on your behalf
- No invoice for the 15 core ECCE hours should be issued to you
- If your child changes provider mid-year, the new provider re-registers them in the ECCE system
- For the next programme year (September 2026), you may need to re-confirm enrolment with your provider
Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)
If your child has a disability, additional needs, or requires toileting support, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) provides targeted supports to ensure they can fully participate in ECCE. This can include:
- Specialist equipment or environmental adaptations
- Additional staff hours for intensive support
- Specialist support from early years therapists
AIM applications are made through your child’s ECCE provider and your local CCC. Providers cannot refuse ECCE solely because a child has additional needs or is not toilet-trained.
Interactions with other payments
- NCS — complements ECCE: NCS subsidises hours beyond the 15 free ECCE hours; both apply simultaneously to the same child
- Child Benefit — entirely separate; ECCE does not affect Child Benefit
- Working Family Payment — entirely separate; ECCE does not affect WFP eligibility or amount
- Back to School Allowance — entirely separate; ECCE attendance has no effect on Back to School eligibility
Refusals and appeals
A provider may refuse enrolment only for legitimate reasons such as being at full capacity. They cannot refuse a child based on nationality, disability, or not being toilet-trained. If you believe a refusal was unlawful, contact:
- Your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for guidance and alternative providers
- The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth at gov.ie if you believe your child’s rights under the ECCE scheme were denied
Frequently asked questions
- ECCE is not means-tested — every child meeting the age requirement is entitled to the 15 free hours regardless of family income.
- Providers cannot charge for the 15 ECCE hours — optional charges for meals or trips must be genuinely optional and disclosed before enrolment.
- ECCE does not start from birth — the earliest a child can start is September after their second birthday.
- ECCE covers 15 hours per week, not full-time childcare — use NCS for additional hours if you need more coverage.
- Providers cannot refuse a child solely because they have a disability or are not toilet-trained — AIM supports are available.
- Children born in autumn/winter may get two ECCE years before starting primary school — check your child’s eligibility dates carefully.
This page was reviewed against official Irish government guidance. ECCE provides 15 free preschool hours per week (Sept–June) to all children from September after their 2nd birthday until primary school entry. No means test applies. The programme can be combined with NCS for additional childcare hours.
Information Accuracy — This guide has been independently researched and reviewed using official Irish government sources available on the publication date. Government schemes, payment rates, eligibility rules and legislation may change over time. Before making financial, legal or welfare decisions, always confirm the latest information directly with the relevant Irish authority.